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prayer. First, he addressed God as the “ God of my father Abraham,” which shows that he understands the sole ground of prayer of sinners must be the divine covenant. Second, he pleads the promise of God to him personally (v. 9). Third, he acknowledges humbly that he is utterly ♦unworthy of the least of God’s mercies, so richly be stowed upon him (v. 10). Fourth, he offers the one petition of the prayer— “Deliver me . ■. . from the hand of Esau” (V. 11). And finally, he closes the prayer by recalling and pleading the great promise of God to His •chosen people (v. 12). This would have been a good place to have rested his 'case, but Jacob has one last scheme in his head, and after praying he proceeds to the business of sending to Esau a. truly magnificent present, nine different droves of animals. And he tells the" servants to put plenty of space between the droves, so that the impression upon Esau will be cumu- . lative! (vs. 13-20). 4. "What is thy name? And he said, Jacob" (v. 27). Hebrew names were often descriptive of character, and Jacob means “ heel catcher” or “sup- planter^’ This gives point to the de mand of God, “What is thy name?” We have said harsh things sometimes about Jacob.' How many of us can match his humble frankness,-as he replies that, his name is Jacob. In every age, there is no blfessing for us until:we confess our iniquity. What is thy name? Golden Text Illustration P salm 46:1 Dr. Forsyth told the. story of a friend of his, who was taken to see a sheep farm in Australia, at the time of shearing, and how the guide took one Tittle lamb from the pert and placed it in a huge enclosure with some thousands of sheep, where the noise of the bleating of the sheep and the shouting of the shearers was deaf ening. The lamb remained still for a moment, then it cried, and its cry was answered by the mother at the other end, of the enclosure, along which the lamb walked to its mother, who came to meet’ it. “Do not imagine that you are be yond the reach of God,” said the doc tor as he concluded. “He sees you, He hears you; every good desire of yours is known to Him, and every secret longing for better things. He sees you as if there were no other child in the whole world.” The Lord’s ear is ever open to the cry of His children.— Five Thousand Best Modern Illustrations, by Hallock. Down by the Brook « G enesis 32 MEMORY VERSE: “I will call upon God . . . Evening, and morning, and
IV. P revailing by J acob (27-29) It was not by wrestling that Jacob prevailed, but by yielding; not by a display of strength, but of weakness. The truly prevailing man is/ the one who, coming to the end; of all he is in himself and all he has, simply clings to the God frorti whom all power Comes. Hence this picture is not of a man being earnest in trying to get an answer to prayer, but actually of a man trying to resist God’s an swer. It wais God wrestling with Jacob, not vice versa. It was God who was in earnest to see the prayer answered, not Jacob. God’s strength was needed, and that was to be found then, as today, only through the weakness and surrender of the human instrument (cf. 2 Cor. 12:9, 10). Finally came the changed name, upon confession of what' Jacob really was in himself; the changed power through clinging to God in weakness, and the changed Walk in almighty power to meet every weakness. » Points and Problems 1. "He said. This is God's host" (Gen. 32:2). The reference is to the first verse of the chapter where we read that “Jacob Went on his way, and the angels of God met him.” Once be fore Jacob had been given assurance of God’s watchful care by a vision of angels ascending and descending be tween earth and heaven. Now once more God gives him assurance by sending a host of angels to remind him that God is on his side. Thus he calls the place “Mahanaim,” meaning “ two hosts.” On Jacob’s side was not only his own “host” of armed follow ers, but also God’s “host.” 2. "Then Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed" . (v. 7). A troubled conscience is not an easy thing with which to live, and Jacob, about to meet his brother Esau, remembers now doubtless how he had once schemed to take advantage of his brother. The manner in which he meets the danger reveals that there is still very much of thè schemer in Jacob. First, he sent messengers to Esau, addressing him as “My lord Esau,” and also telling of the wealth he had accumulated, evidently wish ing to assure his brother that he had not come back necessarily to take pos session Of Isaac’s property. Second, he divided his people ijito two bands (v. 7), reasoning that if Esau smote the onq band the other might escape. Then, third, Jacob prayed to God for help (vs. 9-12), which is what he should have done first. But he has not learned this lesson yet, still having great confidence in his own schemes. 3. "And Jacob said, O God" (v. 9). This is the first recorded prayer in the Bible, and while] the petitioner is not all he ought to be yet, it is a great
trouble boldly to the Lord. Finally, he presented the promise of God:“ Thou saidst.” This is the uttermost limit of ail confident prayer. When a promise of God can be presented, the answer is certain to come. God might hear because of the helplessness of the one who prays; God may hear because of the besetting danger; but God must hear when His qwn promises are pre sented reverently with the request that He make them good. The fulfill ment of God’s promises is within the limits of His will, and all such prayer must obtain answers-(cf. 1 John 5:14, 15). WHY ENROLL NOW IN A HOME STUDY BIBLE COURSE Daily Strength Spiritual Growth ^ A Worth-While Summer and— Receive the FREE OFFER with each, enrollment during July and August. Write fqr a Prospectus describing nineteen Bible courses. Send, in your enrollment which in cludes correction of work and final certificate. You will receive in addition free “Studies in the Gospel of Luke.” (The free offer includes material only; no examination and no cor rections are given.) —Mention This Advertisement— Correspondence School The Bible Institute of Los Angeles, Ine. For:
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